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Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue petitions Tony Blair

January 1st, 2003

The Bishop of Lancaster, Patrick O'Donoghue, joined local campaigners today in signing a giant petition to the Prime Minister. The petition, shaped like a giant luggage label, calls on Tony Blair to change the rules so that international trade works for the world's poor. It will be taken to London by campaigners and handed in during a mass rally at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 19 June. Bishop Patrick said: "I want to join the many local people who are campaigning to make a difference for the world's poor which is why I am 'sending myself' to Tony Blair via this petition." Jennifer Sullivan, Development Worker for the Lancaster RC Diocese Faith and Justice Commission says, "Every three seconds a child in Africa dies of hunger. This is a shocking statistic. One of the reasons why developing countries are caught in a poverty trap is global trade regulations that continue to discriminate against the world's poorest nations." The Trade Justice Movement, which includes organisations such as CAFOD and Christian Aid is organising a mass rally with 10,000 people at the Houses of Parliament on 19 June -100 local people will be joining them calling on our government to make a difference."

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